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super…imposed； with the bags connected at the points where the
circular sections come into contact。 Thus the external
appearance of the envelope is decidedly unusual； comprising three
symmetrical ridges。 At the points where the three bags come into
contact cloth bands are stretched across the arcs； thereby
forming a cord。 The suspension system is attached to the upper
corners of the inverted triangle thus formed； and converges in
straight lines through the gas space。 The bracing terminates in
collecting rings from which a short vertical cable extends
downwards through a special accordion sleeve to pass through the
lower wall of the envelope。 These sleeves are of special design；
the idea being to permit the gas to escape under pressure arising
from expansion and at the same time to provide ample play for the
cable which is necessary in a flexible airship。
This cable emerges from the envelope only at the point or points
where the car or cars is or are placed。 In the British airship
of this type there is only one car； but the larger French vessels
are equipped with two cars placed tandem…wise。 The vertical
cable； after extending downwards a certain distance； is divided；
one rope being attached to one； and the second to the other side
of the car。 The two…bladed propellers are disposed on either
side of the car； in each of which a 500 horse…power motor is
placed。
The Astra…Torres type of dirigible may be said to represent the
latest expression in airship design and construction。 The
invention has given complete satisfaction； and has proved
strikingly successful。 The French Government has completed
arrangements for the acquisition of larger and more powerful
vessels of this design； being now in the position to contest
every step that is made by Germany in this field。 The type has
also been embraced by the Russian military authorities。 The
Astra…Torres airship has a rakish appearance； and although the
lines of the gas…bag are admitted to increase frictional
resistance； this is regarded as a minor defect； especially when
the many advantages of the invention are taken into
consideration。
CHAPTER V
GERMANY'S AERIAL DREADNOUGHT FLEET
Although Germany； as compared with France； was relatively slow to
recognise the immense possibilities of aircraft； particularly
dirigibles； in the military sense； once the Zeppelin had received
the well…wishes of the Emperor William； Teuton activities were so
pronounced as to enable the leeway to be made up within a very
short while。 While the Zeppelin commanded the greatest attention
owing to the interesting co…operation of the German Emperor； the
other types met with official and royal recognition and
encouragement as already mentioned。 France； which had held premier
position in regard to the aerial fleet of dirigibles for so long；
was completely out…classed； not only in dimensions but also in
speed； as well as radius of action and strategical distribution of
the aerial forces。
The German nation forged ahead at a great pace and was able to
establish a distinct supremacy； at least on paper。 In the light
of recent events it is apparent that the German military
authorities realised that the dawn of 〃The Day〃 was approaching
rapidly； and that it behoved them to be as fully prepared in the
air as upon the land。 It was immaterial that the Zeppelin was
the synonym for disaster。 By standardisation its cost could be
reduced while construction could be expedited。 Furthermore； when
the matter was regarded in its broadest aspect； the fact was
appreciated that forty Zeppelins could be built at the cost of
one super…Dreadnought； so that adequate allowance could be made
for accidents now and then； since a Zeppelin catastrophe； no
matter how complete it may be； is regarded by the Teuton as a
mere incident inseparable from progressive development。
At the beginning of the year 1914 France relied upon being
strengthened by a round dozen new dirigibles。 Seven of these
were to be of 20；000 cubic metres' capacity and possessed of a
speed of 47 miles per hour。 While the existing fleet was
numerically strong； this strength was more apparent than real；
for the simple reason that a large number of craft were in
dry…dock undergoing repair or overhaul while many of the units
were merely under test and could not be regarded therefore as in
the effective fleet。 True； there were a certain number of
private craft which were liable to be commandeered when the
occasion arose； but they could not be considered as decided
acquisitions for the simple reason that many were purely
experimental units。
Aerial vessels； like their consorts upon the water； have been
divided into distinctive classes。 Thus there are the aerial
cruisers comprising vessels exceeding 282；000 cubic feet in
capacity； scouts which include those varying between 176；600 and
282；000 cubic feet capacity； and vedettes； which take in all the
small or mosquito craft。 At the end of 1913； France possessed
only four of the first…named craft in actual commission and thus
immediately available for war； these being the Adjutant Vincenot；
Adjutant Reau； Dupuy de Lome； and the Transaerien。 The first
three are of 197；800 cubic feet。 All； however； were privately
owned。
On the other hand； Germany had no fewer than ten huge vessels；
ranging from 353；000 to 776；900 cubic feet capacity； three of
which； the Victoria Luise； Suchard； and Hansa； though owned
privately； were immediately available for war。 Of these the
largest was the Zeppelin naval vessel 〃L…1〃 525 feet in length；
by 50 feet diameter； of 776；900 cubic feet capacity； equipped
with engines developing 510 horse…power； and with a speed of 51。8
miles per hour。
At the end of 1913 the effective aerial fleet of Germany
comprised twenty large craft； so far in advance of the French
aerial cruisers as to be worthy of the name bestowed upon them
〃Aerial Dreadnoughts。〃 This merely represented the fleet
available for immediate use and did not include the four gigantic
Suchard…Schutte craft； each of 847；500 cubic feet； which were
under construction； and which were being hurried forward to come
into commission early in 1914。
But the most interesting factor； apart from the possession of
such a huge fleet of dirigible air…craft； was their distribution
at strategical points throughout the Empire as if in readiness
for the coming combat。 They were literally dotted about the
country。 Adequate harbouring facilities had been provided at
Konigsberg； Berlin； Posen； Breslau； Kiel； Hamburg； Wilhelmshaven；
Dusseldorf； Cologne； Frankfort； Metz； Mannheim； Strasburg； and
other places； with elaborate headquarters； of course； at
Friedrichshafen upon Lake Constance。 The Zeppelin workshops；
harbouring facilities； and testing grounds at the latter point
had undergone complete remodelling； while tools of the latest
type had been provided to facilitate th